Measuring apparatus



w. E. sHouPP Sem, 249 EM@ 4 MEASRING APARATUS Filed Dec. 9, 1941 I INVVENTOR- I NZZ/iam E.' Sha/pp,

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BY i ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 24, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE 2,408,230 A MEAsUarNG APPARATUS William E. Shoupp, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application December 9, 1941, Serial No. 422,271

(Cl. Z50-83.6)

11 Claims.

This invention relates to measuring apparatus and, more particularly, to devices for indicating the presence of corpuscular radiation.

Radioactive substances form a source of radiations of particles, the presence of which may beY indicated by suitable sensitive devices which respond to the electrical charges carried by such particles. In the atomic disintegration, we ind that in the atomic structure there are particles which do not possess an electrical charge of any kind. These particles are defined as neutrons. As this definition indicates, these particles are neutral and will not be attracted by electrical fields, and their presence will not change the potential charge-equilibrium of matter with which they may come into contact. The methods heretofore used for indicating charged particles, therefore, cannot be applied for indicating the presence of neutron radiation.

The present invention has for its object to indicate the presence of neutron particles and also count the number of such particles within a confined space.

A particular feature of the invention is that the phenomenon of atomic fission observable in nuclear physics is utilized as a secondary elect producing medium for the indication of neutron radiation. A particular advantage in utilizing atomic ssion is that apparatus used to detect particles having a definite electrical charge may be employed, with simple modification in accordance with this invention, to indicate neutron radiation.

Other features and advantages will be apparent from the following description of the invention, pointed out in particularity by the appended claims, and taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

The gure shows schematically the circuit of a counting and recording apparatus responsive to neutron particles.

Referring to the figure, a counter tube lis shown schematically in cross-section comprising a suitable housing 2 of glass or other material within which is a conducting cylinder 3. Coaxially to this cylinder is stretched a ne insulated wire 4. The counter tube just described is known in the art as a Geiger counter, and is used in connection with suitable electrical apparatus to respond to the presence of charged particles which will produce ionization between the conducting cylinder and the insulated wire. However, since neutrons are particles devoid of electrical charge, they will not produce ionization in the counter tubes known in the art. In accordance with this invention, the counter tube is modied by adding to its elements recited a coating 5 to the inner wall of the cylinder 3 of such material which is capable of atomic iission in the presence of neutron particles. Uranium or thorium, among other elements, are particularly disrupted b-y neutron bombardment. Neutrons penetrate glass and similar materials, and, therefore, the envelope 2 offers no impedient to their passage. The nuclear disintegration produced by the iission of the uranium or thorium atoms results in the formation of new nuclei possessing strong ionization properties which4 will ionize the space within the counter tube.

These new nuclei or fission particles resulting from the neutrons striking the uranium or thorium cause very high ionization, so that the voltage diierence between the electrodes of the counter tube may be set suiliciently low as to make the counter respond only to radiation due to nuclear fission and not to any other corpuscular radiations, such as alpha or beta rays, ,or electrons that may be present. The fission, and consequently the registered counts, will then be a measure of the neutron intensity. Generally, in counter tubes, once ionization starts the electrons formed in the ionized gaseous atmosphere in their acceleration form more electrons, creating an electron avalanche. If the discharge is to be self-maintained, it requires a source of electrons other than that of the gas molecules. It was found that the source of these electrons is the photoelectrons ejected from the cylinder 3 by the quanta that radiate from the excited positive ions formed by the electrons that set up the avalanche. For this reason, once a discharge is started in the counter tube, means must be provided for extinguishing it rapidly in order to bring the tube to a sensitive condition for the next neutron particle. It is important to note that the neutron induced fission is much more probable than the iission which may be induced by gamma rays, and no serious correction. will be necessary in the apparatus in accordance with this invention to cancel the eiect which gamma 'rays may produce.

Coupled to the counter tube l is a vacuum tube circuit shown here in a simplified form reduced to the essential elements of an operating structure. For the sake of simplicity, individual batteries are shown as the sources of operating potentials for the tubesand for the counter tube. It is, of course, understood that these batteries may be replaced by a suitable power supply operating from commercial power circuits. The

3 tubes used are shown to be of the cathode-heater type, the filament circuit being omitted, since it is well known that the cathodes are heated by filaments which may receive energy from various types of sources of current. The wire 4 is connected to the anode 1 of the tube 8 and also to the anode load resistor 9, which terminates at the positive terminal of the battery Iii. The battery II is connected in series therewith, and the screen grid electrode I2 of the tube 8 is supplied 'with potential from the battery I I, in that the screen grid I2 is connected to the junction point between the two batteries. The cathode I3 connects to the negative terminal of theAbat- -tery II and also to the positive terminal of the battery I4. The latter is in series with the resistor I5 which connects to the control grid lIS of the tube 8 and also to the Ycylinder 3 of the counter tube I. In parallel with the resistor I5 i is the condenser I8.

The output of the tube 8 between anode and cathode is Vcoupled lto the input circuit of vthe aii`1- plifier tube 20 by means of the coupling condenser 2l which connects to the grid 22 of the tube. The biasing potential of th 'grid 22 derived from the battery 23 between cathode 2! in series with 'the grid load resistance 25. The amplifier tube 2G is also of the .screenY grid type having a screen grid 26 which is supplied 1with operating potential from the battery 21. The anode 23 of th tube 2'0 connects to the Operating winding of the electromagnet 3l, a'nd is 'supplied with operating potential from the vbattery 32 in series with the battery 2l. The plunger 33 of the electromagnet 3| is n'echanicallyglinked with the Ashaft 35 of a recording device. The latter operates in the Well known manner that for each m'oven'ieiit of the shaft 35 caused by the plunger 33 a number 'will appear, whereby every Yino'verm-:nt of the shaft is 'successively indicated within the number range that the recording 'devicefm'ay have.

Referring to the operation of the circuit, the counter tube is usually operated at a pressure of a few 'centimeters of gas. A polarizing voltage of a potential 'positive with respect to the Yc'ylir'ider is applied to the wire 4 from Athe batteries I4, l I. and Il] in series. In following the circuit, itis seen that 'the extreme negative terminal 'or the series combination off batteries connects through the resistor I5 to v'the 'cylinder 3, whereas the eX- treme positive terminal is 'connected through the anode resistor S to the wire '4. The 'voltage produced by the batteries is of such'magnitude that it will vnot break Ydown the gap between the Ywire 4 and 4the cylinder 3. When the fission material coating 5 is exposed t'o neutron particles, the fission of the material, as stated above, Vproduces fission particles which liberate electrons and ions in the 'gas so that an velectrical discharge occurs between the wire and the cylinder. The strong electric eld near the wire will obtain suiiicient energy to ionize the gas. The ionization permits 'electrical conductivity between the wire 7l and the cylinder 3,. When this happens, the grid It? of the tube 8 'will become positive and the resultant current produces a voltage drop across resistor 9. The change of voltage across resistor "9 'istra-nsV mitted to the grid 22 of the amplifier tube 2U by the discharge of ythe condenser 2l. The impulse which the grid 22 receives is then amplified by the tube 2B and results in a plate current change. The plate current owin'g through the winding 3E! will cause the plunger 33 to operate and movethe shaft 35 of the recorder.

A breakdown in the counter tube, las stated bsfore, would maintain conductivity if the applied voltage between the cylinder 3 and the wire 4 is not removed. However, the circuit components are so proportioned that the voltage drop due to anode current of the tube 8 is Isufficiently high t0 lower the potential difference between the cylinder 3 and the wire 4 to a Value which removes the initial potential between these element-s for maintaining ionization. In other words, the tube 8 acts as a low resistance, short-circuiting the counter tube elements and the discharge in the counter tube rwill be extinguished. As soon as there is no conductivity, the grid I6 of the tube 3 returns to its normal negative charge, and anode current in the tube ceases. The voltage equilibrium is again restored between the cylinder 3 and the wire 4 to a high value for the next ionizan tion due to fission of the deposit. The rate of conductive energization and restoration to non-conductivity is determined by the time constant of the resistor I5 and the capacity I8.

I claim as my invention:

1. In 'a counter for indicating neutron particles, a counter tube including a pair of discharge velectrodes in a gaseous atmosphere, 'material capable of atomic ssion under neutron bombardment, thereby liberating radiation causing ionization of said atmosphere, associated I'with one of said electrodes, and an ionization responsive circuit connected between said electrodes.

2. In a counter for indicating the intensity ci neutrons, a counter tube exposed to neutron radiation, a pair of discharge electrodes in a gaseous atmosphere for lsaid tube, one of which is at a positive potential with Arespect to the other, material capable of atomic fission under neutron bombardment, thereby liberating radiation causing ionization of said atmosphere, associated with said negatively chargedelectrode, and an ionization responsive circuit connected between said electrodes.

3. A counter in accordance with claim 2 in which said material is in the Yform of a coating'cf uranium.

V4. A counter in accordance with claim 2 in which said material i's in the form of a coating ofk thorium.

5.4 A discharge device comprising an elongated conductor in a gaseous atmosphere, a cylindrical conductor encircling said elongated conductor and a coating of a material capable of atomic fission under neutron bombardment, thereby'lib erating radiation causing ionization of said atmosphere, on the inner surface of said cylindrical conductor.

6. A discharge device comprising an inner conductor in a gaseous atmosphere, an cuter conductor encircling said inner conductor and a coating of a material capable of atomic 'ssicn under neutron bombardment, thereby liberating radiation causing ionization of said atmosphere, on the inner surface of said outer conductor.

7. discharge device comprising a gas-tight envelope of a material that is penetrated by neutrons, said envelope having therein an'attenuatod gaseous medium, Vvan inner conductor, an outer conductor encircling said 'inner conductor 'and a coating 'of a "material capable of 'atomic fission under neutron bombardment, thereby liberating radiation causing ionization of said atmosphere, on the inner surface of said outer'conductor.

8. In combination, a gas-tight tube lincluding a gaseous atmosphere anda pair of discharge electrodes, one of said electrodes bearing a mater rial capable of atomic ission vunder neutron bombardment, thereby liberating radiation causing ionization of said atmosphere, a circuit interconnecting said electrodes comprising a source of direct-current voltage in series with a high impedance connected between said electrodes, and means responsive to the magnitude of current ow through said impedance. l

9. In combination, a gas-tight tube including a gaseous atmospherel and a pair of discharge electrodes, one of said electrodes being a substance chosen from the group comprising uranium and thorium, a circuit interconnecting said electrodes comprising a source of direct-current voltagefin series with a high impedance connected between said electrodes, and means responsive to the magnitude of current ow through said impedance',

10. In combination, a gas-tight tube including a gaseous atmosphere and a pair of discharge electrodes, one of said electrodes being a material capable of atomic ssion under neutron bom-l bardment, thereby liberating radiation causing ionization of said atmosphere, a tube having a control electrode and two principal electrodes.

said control electrode being connected to one off the first-mentioned electrodes, an impedance interconnecting said control electrode with one of said principal electrodes, a second impedance and a source of direct-current voltage interconnecting said one of said principal electrodes to the other of said principal electrodes, said other of said principal electrodes being connected to the other of said rst-mentioned pair of electrodes, and current-indicating means responsive to current flow between said principal electrodes.

11. In combination, a gas-tight tube including a gaseous atmosphere and a pair of discharge electrodes, one of said electrodes being a substance chosen from the group comprising uranium and thorium, a tube having a control electrode and two principal electrodes, said control eleotrode being connected to one of the first-mentioned electrodes, an impedance interconnecting said control electrode with one of said principal electrodes, a second impedance and a source of direct-current voltage interconnecting said one of said principal electrodes to the other of said principal electrodes, said other of said principal electrodes being connected to the other of said first-mentioned pair of electrodes, and currentindicating means responsive to current ow between said principal electrodes.

WILLIAM E. SHOUPP. 

